Portable wire fence



(No Model.)

E. BRISBIN. PORTABLE WIRE FENCE. No. 600,401. Patented Mar.8,1898.

EUGENE BRISBIN, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.

PORTABLE WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,401, dated March 8, 1898.

Application filed March 26, 1897. Serial No. 629,363. (N0 model-3 To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that l, EUGENE BRISBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowling Green, in the county of Vood and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable lire Fences; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in portable fences, and more particularly to portable folding wire fences.

The object of the invention is to provide a fence of the character mentioned which shall be simple, cheap, and durable and one which is adapted to be quickly taken down or set up, as the case may be, without injury to the fence.

A further object of the invention is to embody in the construction of a fence simple and eficient 1n eans for retaining the line-wires thereof stretched at a proper degree of tension and also to provide improved anchoring means for retaining the posts of the fence in their proper positions.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists, substantially, in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully illustrated, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of a fence constructed in accordance with the present invention, one corner of the fence being illustrated to show the relation of the anchoring means thereto and the surface of the ground being shown by dotted lines in order to disclose the position of such anchoring means therebeneath. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View ot' the anchoring-plate. Fig. 3 is a similar View of one of the draft-rods. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the draft-rods employed at the side of the fence.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, l designates the line-wires of a fence, which may be of any desired gage, and each of said wires has its ends formed into loops 2 for the reception of posts 3, preferably tubular in cross-section,

for reducing the weight thereof and facilitating handling the same.

It will be noted that each panel of the fence is ,formed of a plurality of sections disposed one above the other, and by means of this construction said sections of each of the panels may be readily folded over and upon each other when it is desired to transport the fence from one locality to another, and in order that the line-wires 1 of each of the panels may be securely held together and thus retain the panels intact stay wires 4 are employed.

'Each of the stay-wires 4 is formed of a single strand of wire and is bent upon itself at a point substantially midway of its ends. The point at which the bend is made is preferably left open to form an eye 5, and after said eye has been formed lin each of the stays 4 the sides of the latter are twisted a sufiicient distance from the eye 5 to prevent the line-wires l lying immediately adjacent to said eye 5 when said wires l are placed in the stays 4. After positioning one of the line-wires l in the stay-wires 4 at a point which is somewhat,

near the eyes 5 the twisting of the stays 4 is then continued for a distance so as to place the next line-wire l, which is placed in the stays 4, the required space from the first line-wire twisted into the stays 4, when a second linewire is also twisted into said stays, and this operation continued until the section of the panel being thus formed is of the required width. The next section of the panel is formed in a similar manner, but previous to positioning the line-wires the stay-wires of the second section to be formed are first passed through the eyes 5 of the stays 4 of the panel which has been completed. The strands of the stays 4 of the second section to be formed are then bent at a point substantially midway of their ends and twisted, as before described, the line-wires being twisted into said stays at the required spacingduring the operation of forming the section. When the sections of each panel have been thus formed, it will be seen that the eyes 5 of the stays 4 of both the upper and lower sections of each panel are connected together, and by means of these eyes 5 the sections are hinged together, so that they may be closed over and folded upon each other for readily transporting the same. The upper ends of IOO the stays 4 of the upper sections, when the latter have become the required width, are bent over, as shown in the drawings, while the lower ends of the stays 4 of the lower sections project downwardly, as also clearly shown. When the panels have been thus formed, it will be seen that the loops 2 in the ends of the line-wires 1 are in alinement with each other, so that to connect a plurality of panels it is simply necessary to pass one of the posts 3 through the loops 2 of the meeting ends of the panels, and by means of the posts 3 it will be seen that the sections of each of the panels are retained in open position or that wherein one is held above another.

For the purpose of anchoring the posts 3, so that it will be unnecessary for the same to be planted in the ground, an anchoring-plate 6 is employed and positioned at each end of the fence, said plate being preferably substantially elliptical and provided with a handle 7, said handle 7 being welded or otherwise suitably secured to the plate 6, so as to form a firm connection therewith, the end of the plate 6 opposite to the handle 7 being pointed to facilitate the insertion of said plate into the ground and having its edges sharpened to also enable said plate passing throughy the soil. The anchoring-plates 6 are further provided at substantially their center with apertures 8, which apertures are provided at diametrically opposite points with notches 9,

and for the purpose of connecting the anchoring-plates 6 with the posts of the fence draftrods 10 are employed. Each of the draft-rods lO may either be solid ortubular, and formed at one end thereof is an arrow-head 11 of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of 'the rods 10. By this construction it will be seen that the arrow-heads 11 are adapted to readily pass through the slots or openings 8 when the ends of the heads 11 are caused to register with the notches 9 of the openings 8, and after passing the heads 11 through the openings 8, as described, a partial rotation is given to the rods 10, so as to place the ends of the heads out of alinement with the notches 9, whereby the draft-rods 10 are firmly secured to the anchor-plates 6 and prevented being displaced therefrom. The ends of the rods 10 opposite to the arrow-heads 11 are bifurcated, and journaled in the bifurcated end of each of the rods 10 is a shaft 12,having mounted thereon at substantially its center a ratchet-Wheel 13, a paWl 14 being pivoted to the inner end of the bifurcation and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 13 for retaining the latter adjusted at different positions. A removable handle 15 may be attached to one end of the shaft 12 for rotating the latter, and by reason of the crank l5 being removable itis quite obvious that a single one is all that is necessary for employment with the fence when necessary to erect the same or tighten the Wires thereof when the same have become slack.

A cable 16 connects each of the posts 3 at the ends of the fence with the draft-rod 10, arranged adjacent thereto, and each end' of the cable 16 is provided with aloop 17, adapted to receive the upper and lower ends of the posts 3, the cable 16 passing through an opening 18, formed in the ratchet-wheel13. By so attaching the cable 16 to the ratchet-Wheel 13 it will be seen that when rotation is imparted to the shaft 12the cable 16 is wound thereon,thus imparting to the post to which the cable 16 is attached a pulling force and thereby ten sioning the line-wires connected to said post. By reference to the drawings it Will be seen that one of the anchoring-plates 6 and the draftbar 10, connected thereto, is arranged in alinement with each side of the fence at each end thereof, and it will be furthernoted that the posts 3 do not enter the ground, but simply rest thereon, the anchoring means described being sufticient to retain the posts 3 in their upright position.

In the event that the fence is of considerable length or that the same is desired to be used for inclosing fields and the like wherein stock are quartered it will be necessary to brace the posts 3 at different points between the end posts of the fence, and in order that this may be accomplished side draft-rods 19 are positioned at different intervals, said rods 19 being substantially the same as the rods 10; but in lieu of the shaft 12 and ratchetwheel 13 thereof spurs 2O are formed on the rods 19, around which a stay wire 21 is adapted to be coiled. The stay-wires 21 are provided in their ends opposite to those which are connected to the spurs 2O with loops 22,

I said loops being adapted to receive the upper ends of the posts 3, and it will thus be seen that the stay-Wires 21 when the proper degree of tension is imparted thereto will cause the posts throughout the length of the fence between the end posts being properly supported.

The methodof constructing the herein-described fence has been already described, and it is believed the manner of setting up the same will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The fence as an entirety is complete when leaving the factory, and when the same has reached thepoint of erection it is simply necessary to open the sections of the panels and connect said panels by lpassing the posts 3 through the loops 2 of the line-wires 1. Vhen this step has been taken, the anchoring-plates 6 are positioned in the ground adjacent to the points which the end posts of the fence will occupy, said plates inclining at substantially an angle of forty-five degrees. The planting of the anchoring-plates 6 may be effected in any desired manner-such, for instance, as by the employment of a Inaul or Sledgeand when the anchoring-plates 6 have been thus positioned the draft-rods 10 are thrust into the ground at substantially the angle between the upper end of the end posts of the fence, when said posts are set up, and the IIO point occupied by the openings S of the anchoring-plates 6. Then the arrow-heads 11 of the draft-rods have been passed through the openings 8 of said anchoring-plates, said draft-rods l0 are partially rotated, so as to place the ends of the heads 11 out of alinement With the notches 0, and thus secure the draft-rods lO to the anchoring-plates 6. After the cables 16 have had their ends connected to the end posts of the fence, said cables having been previously passed through the openings 18 in the ratchet-Wheels 13, the shafts 12 are rotated, thereby Winding the cables 16 upon said shafts until a proper degree of tension has been imparted to the cables 16 to retain the end posts in their upright position, the paWls 14 en ,ga-ging the teeth of the ratchet- Wheels 13 and retaining the latter in their adjusted position. The fence is now erected, and in the event that the side draft-rods 19 are employed the same are positioned in the ground in a manner similar to the draft-rods 10, it of course being necessary to elnploy one of the anchoring-plates 6 in connection With each of the draft-rods 19 to secure the latter in the ground, is apparent. To re- ,move the fence for transporting the same to another point of erection, it is simply necessary to loosen the cables 16, so that the fence may be taken down and the sections of the panels folded, and by extracting the'anchoring-plate 6 and the draft-rods 10 and 19 the latter may be also transported to their new position and the fence erected with little difficulty.

From the foregoing description it will be `seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple fence adapted to be readily folded for transportation and as' readily erected When necessary, and the same embodies in its construction simple and efficient means for retaining the same erected. The fence is also light and may be put up Without any injury Whatever to the same, and While I have described the device 16 as cables I Wish it to be understood that this term implies anything in the nature of a rope, chain, or similar device.

Having thus described the inve11tion,what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fence of the class described,com prisin g aplurality of sections, in combination with an anchoring-plate provided with a slot or opening having notches at its sides, a draft-rod having a head at one of its ends adapted to be inserted through the opening of the al1-- choring-plate and the notches thereof and to be rotated so as to position said head out of alinement With the notches to prevent displacement of the draft-rod from the anchoring-plate, and suitable connections between said draft-rod and the fence to retain the latter in its erected position, substantially as described.

2. Afence of the class described, comprising a plurality of panels, in combination With an anchoring-plate provided with a slot or opening having notches at its sides, a draft-rod having a head at one of its ends adapted to be inserted through the opening of the anchoring-plate and the notches thereof and to be rotated so as to position said head out of alinement with the notches to prevent displacement of the draft-rod from the anchoring-plate, a shaft journaled in the draft-rod, and suitable connections between said shaft and the fence for retaining the latter in its erected position, substantially as described. 3. A fence of the class described, comprising a plurality ot` panels, in combination with anchoring-plates, draft-rods suitably connected to said anchoring-plates, shafts journaled in said draft-rods, and cables suitably connected to said shafts and also connected to the fence, said cables being adapted to be Wound upon said shafts for retaining the fence in erected position, substantially as described.

4. A fence of the class described,comprising a plurality of panels, in combination With anchoring-plates, draft-rods connected to said anchoring-plates, shafts j ournaled in, said draft-rods, cables connected to said shafts and the fence and adapted to be Wound upon said shafts to retain the fence in erected position, and means for locking said shafts against rotation, substantially as described.

5. A fence of the class described,comprising a plurality oflpanels, in combination With anchoring-plates, draft-rods connected to said anchoring plates, shafts j ournaled in said draft-rods, cables connected to said shafts and the fence and adapted to be Wound upon said shafts to retain the fence in erected position, ratchet- Wheels mounted upon said shafts, and pawls carried by the draft-rods and adapted to engage the ratchet-Wheels to lock the shafts against rotation, substantially as described.

. G. In a fence of the class described the combination with the panels thereof, of an anchoring-plate provided with a slot or opening having notches at its sides, a draft-rod having a head at one of its ends adapted to be inserted through the opening of the anchor- IOO ing-plate and the notches thereof and to be rotated so as to position said head out of alinement of the draft-rod from the anchoringplate, a shaft journaled in the draft-rod, a ratchet-Wheel mounted upon said shaft and provided with an opening, a pawl also carried by the draft-rod and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-Wheel to lock the latter against rotation, and a cable passing through the opening of the ratchet-Wheel and adapted to be connected to the fence, said cable being adapted to be Wound upon the shaft when the latter is rotated to retain the fence in elevated position, substantially as described.

7. In a fence of the class described, the combination with the panels thereof, of anchor- I ing plates provided with openings having notches at their sides, draft-rods provided with heads adapted to be inserted through the openings and notches and to be rotated so as to position said heads out of alinement with the notches of the openin gs, whereby the draf t-rods are secured to the anchoring-plates, said draft-rods being further provided with bifurcated ends, shafts journaled in said bifurcated ends, ratchet-Wheels mounted upon said shafts and provided with openings,rneans for rotating said shafts, cables passing through the openings of the ratchet-Wheels and adapted to be secured to the fence, said cables being further adapted to be Wound upon the shafts to retain the fence in erected position, and means for retaining the ratchet-wheels locked against rotation, substantially as described.

8. In a fence of the class described, the combination with a plurality of detachable panels provided at their ends with a series of loops adapted to receive the posts of the fence for connecting the panels together, of an anchoring-plate provided with a slot or opening having notches at its edges, 4a draft-rod provided with a head adapted to enter the opening and notches thereof and be rotated therein so as to position the head out of alinernent with the notches to secure the draft-rod to the anchorin g-plate, a shaft j ournaled in said draft-rod, a ratchet-wheel mounted upon said shaft, a cable secured to the ratchet-wheel and adapted to be Wound upon the shaft when the latter is rotated, said cable being connected to the fence, whereby the latter is retained in erected position when the cable is wound upon the shaft, and means for locking the shaft against rotation, substantially as described.

9. In a fence of the class described, the combination with a plurality of panels each of which is formed of a series of sections so connected as to fold upon each other, said panels being adapted to be connected by the posts of the fence, of anchoring-plates provided with openings having notches, draft-rods provided with heads adapted to be inserted in the openings of the anchoring-plates through the notches thereof and to be rotated so as to position the heads out of alinement with said notches and thereby secure the draft-rods to the anchoring-plates, shafts journaled in the draft-rods, ratchet-wheels mounted upon said shafts. cables suitably connected to the shafts and also attached to the fence, whereby when said shafts are rotated the cables are adapted to be wound thereon to retain the fence in erected position,N means carried by said draftrods for locking the shafts against rotation, draft-rods adapted to be located at different points throughout the length of the fence at the sidesthereof, said side draft-rods being provided with spurs, and cables adapted to be attached to the fence and connected to the spurs of the side draft-rods, whereby the sides of the fence are retained in erected position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EUGENE BRISBIN.

Vitnesses:

J on E. BAIRD, AUSTIN R. HARRIsoN. 

